John ernest kennedy



No. 6l6,||2. Patented Dec. 20, |898. J. E. KENNEDY.

VENTILATED BOOT 0R SHOE.

(Application led May 10, 1897.) rNo Model.)

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN ERNEST KENNEDY, OF MONTREAL, CANADA.

VENTILATED BOOT OR SHOE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 616,112, dated December20, 1898. Application iiled May 10, 1897. Serial No. 635,919. (Nomodel.)

To @ZZ whom, it may con/cern:

Be itknown that I, JOHN ERNEST KENNEDY, manufacturer, of the city ofMontreal, in the county of Hochelaga, in the Province of Quebec, Canada,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ventilated Boots orShoes, of which the followingisaspecification.

My invention relates to improvements in ventilated boots and shoes; andthe features of invention are illustrated in the accom panying drawingsand specifically described in the specification and pointed out in theclaims.

Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional perspective View through abootprovided with my improvenients. Fig. 2 is a perspective detail ofthe collapsible center sole. Fig. 3 is a crosssection through the toeportion of the boot on the line a I), Fig. 1, and parallel to thetongues of the center sole. Fig. 4: is a cross-section through the heelportion of the boot on the line y, Fig. 1, parallel to the tongues ofthe heel portion of the collapsible center sole. Fig. 5 is a perspectiveview of the heel removed, showing the construction and location of thevalve-casing. Fig. 6 is a detail of lthe valve-casing with the frontplate removed. Fig. 7 is a detail of the valve proper.

In the drawings like letters of reference indicate corresponding partsin each, ligure.

A is the upper of the boot.

B is the outersole, having the heel portion b.

C is the welt.

D is the collapsible center sole.

E isthe insole, and F is the heel.

The collapsible center soleD is made of rubber or other suitable elasticmaterial. The front portion of the sole, upon which the ball and toes ofthe foot rest, is made with a central section, upon which are formed theupper doVetail-shaped tongues Dl, forming corresponding grooves D2between them, and the lower dovetail-shaped tongues D3, formingcorrespondingly-shaped grooves D4 between them. The tongues of the upperportion of the collapsible sole are opposite the grooves in the lowerportion, and vice versa, so that the one sinks into the other when borneupon, thus constituting an elastic spring. The

tongues Dl and D8 in both portions extend across the foot, as indicatedparticularly in Fig. 2.Y The lower tongues DB are provided with taperedlateral extensions d', which extend underneath the Welt and are fastenedwith it to the contacting edges of the upper. (See Fig. 3.) The centralportion D5 of the collapsible center sole D has lateral extensions cl2,which also extend underneath the welt the same as the extensions of thetongues D3 and are secured thereto in the saine inanner. It will thus beseen that the collapsibility of the center sole D4 is extendedpractically to the very edge ofthe sole of the shoe. kD6 are preferablydovetail-shaped tongues on the upper and lower portions of the web D7 atthe heel portion of the collapsible center sole, which are separated soas to form correspondingly-shaped grooves D8.

opposite the grooves formed in the lower portion, and vice versa. l

The central or arched portion of the collapsible inner sole D is formedwith a longitudinal channel G, which extends completely through the.tongues and grooves formed in the sole and heel portion, respectively.The extension G' of the channel G extends underneath the upper tonguesD6 and through the lower tongues at the heel portion, so as to formopenings cl3.

G2 is an extension of the channel G, preferably narrower than the frontend of such channel passing through the toe portion of the collapsiblesole.

The insole E is provided with a series of perforations c, arrangedlongitudinally substantially in the center thereof and opposite thechannel G of the collapsible center sole D. The heel end of the insole Eis slit horizontally into two parts E and E2 as far forward in the soleas the front of the heel, thus forming the upper part into anyindependently-movable iiap hinged at the front end. The lower part E2has a central aperture E3 cut out of it of substantially the same formas the roundabout contour of the heel, (see dotted lines, Fig. 1,)leaving, however, an edge e', which is secured to the heel-stiffener 72,in any approved manner.

EL is a layer, preferably of sole leather, which is placed in theaperture E3 and is designed to loosely tit the same and rest upon theflattened top of the tongues D6. The layer E4 is thicker than the lowerpart E2, and the upper part or flap E rests upon the top The tonguesvformed on the upper'portion of the web are IOO of the layer E4. The toeportion of the insole E is provided with a projecting rib e3, which fitsin between the front curved end d4 of the collapsible sole and the inneredge of the upper secured to the Welt and extends around the uppervertical edges thereof'as far as the heel-stiffener. i

J is the valve-casing, provided with a dovetail-shaped inner end fittinga corresponding recess K in the front of the heel.

J is the front plate of the valve-easing, which is fitted into acorresponding recess K', so as to be flush with the front surface of theheel. The valve is secured in position from beneath by the lower layer Fof the sole, and the dovetail formo f the casing secures it from movingforwardly out of position.

J is a roller-valve provided with a central diametrically-formedopeningj. The rollervalve J2 is journaled in the end openings j of thecasing, and when opened the aperture J is opposite to the outer andinner slots j? and js, respectively, formed in the valve-casing.

In order to provide for the opening and closing of the valve, I providea pin ji, which is inserted into the periphery of the roller-valve andextends through a slot '7'5 formed in one end of the casing J.

K2 is a chamber cut out or formed in the heel behind the valve, asindicated.

J3 is a hinged iapyalve which normally covers the inner slot j.

L is an opening made through the sole B between the chamber K2 andchannel extension G.

Upon the placing of the foot upon the ground it will be seen that theair beneath the insole of the shoe will be forced through the holes eand around the layer E4 and between the parts E and E2 around the footand into and through the upper portion of the boot. Upon raising thefoot the suction of the air now caused by the collapsible center soleexpanding will draw the air through the valve J, opening the flap in sodoing, so as to fill the vacuum caused by the depression of thecollapsible sole. Upon the foot passing to the ground again thecollapsible sole will act as before, serving to keep the flap againstthe 'valve and cause the air to pass up around the foot, as hereinbeforedescribed.

I am aware that there are various ventilating devices in which the airis let in by the raising of the foot from the ground and is expelledupon the placing of the foot thereupon through the same aperture Withoutcausing the air to circulate around the foot. By my device the air whenonce drawn into the boot cannot be forced out through the same apertureagain, but must circulate up around the foot and be forced out betweenthe ankle and top of the upper, thus keeping the stocking and lining ofthe shoe dry by evaporating the perspiration or other moisture as itdevelops and serving to preserve the foot in a healthy, hardy7 andcomfortable condition.

As the collapsible sole is arranged with the tongues extending acrossobliquely, it will be seen that upon pressure upon the insole in walkingthe greatest possible surface of tongues is depressed, so that a maximumvacuum is created, and consequently a maximum amount of air is drawninto the shoe when the foot is raised. As the collapsible center soleextends practically to the edge of the sole, it will be seen that suchsole will be caused to wear evenly. The heel, which is nowr commonlyworn at the back, will be preserved to a great extent, as the firstconcussion Will be received upon the layer E4, which is collapsiblysupported, as hereinbefore described. The collapsible sole alsoextending practically to the edge of the upper the interior of the shoebecomes larger when the foot is on the ground, thus overcoming to agreat extent the discomfort caused by undue pressure upon the foot atcertain parts and at the same time preventing the unsightly stretchingof the upper.

Although I show the tongues as extending crosswise of the collapsiblesole, it will be understood that I do not wish to limit myself in thisrespect.

IVhat I claim as my invention isl. In combination, the upper, the welt,the outer sole and the collapsible center sole provided With crosstongues or ridges each provided with lateral extensions projectingbeneath the' Welt, and means to secure said center sole in place,substantially as described.

2. In combination in a shoe having a collapsible center sole, anair-passage in comlnunication therewith, an insole having a movableheel-Hap and an inelastic piece carried by said flap, substantially asdescribed.

3. In combination in a shoe having a collapsible center sole, anair-passage in communication therewith,an insole having a movableheel-nap, said flap being slit horizontally to form an upper and lowerportion, said lower portion having an opening therein and an inelasticpiece tted to said openin g, substantially as described.

JOI-IN ERNEST KENNEDY. Witnesses:

AMoN A. WILSON, EDWARD L. RISING.'

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